HH and Nawakwi demand reinstatement of students’ union leaders at the Copperbelt University

Two opposition leaders have demanded the immediate reinstatement of the five suspended students’ union leaders at the Copperbelt University (CBU).

In separate statements made available to QFM News, UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema and his FDD Counterpart have expressed concern at the happenings at the Copperbelt University.

Ms Nawakwi in a statement issued to QFM News has further called upon government to adequately fund learning institutions instead of allocating contingency funds to by-elections.

She says the action by the Copperbelt University Management to forcibly remove students sharing bed spaces from their rooms is irrational and inimical to the peace and stability of the country.

The FDD leader notes that the abrupt change in student lodging arrangements by the University Management is motivated by some members of Management who are conniving with private boarding houses owners to provide the landlords with business by the imposition of the ban on squatting.

Ms Nawakwi says the FDD expects Management to address the root cause of acute accommodation shortage at the University instead of harassing innocent students who are trying to earn an education in very unconducive circumstances.

And Mr Hichilema has urged the CBU Management to find a short term and long solution to the acute shortage of accommodation at the learning institution.

He says banning squatting by students and suspending the students union leadership will not in any way help mitigate the challenges currently obtaining at the institution.

Mr Hichilema says suspending the union leaders who are merely speaking for majority students will not in any way solve the challenge of accommodation at the Copperbelt University.